Motorcycle Lift: Will It Take a Heavy Tourer and Hold It Safely?

Servicing a bike at floor level means kneeling, stooping and propping it on whatever is to hand. A lift brings it up to a comfortable height, but only if it carries the weight, holds the bike upright and locks in place.

PartsForMachines stocks 21 hydraulic motorcycle and quad lifts from Sealey, Draper and Clarke, from 135kg lifts for light and trials bikes up to 680kg heavy-duty and quad lifts.

Will a Motorcycle Lift Take My Heavy Tourer or Adventure Bike?

It will if the bike’s weight is within the lift’s rated capacity and the deck is big enough to stand it on. Many platform lifts are rated at 450–454kg, such as the MC401 and the 37157, while heavy-duty lifts like the MC680E electro-hydraulic motorcycle lift take 680kg.

Then check the platform. The compact MC365 is 480mm wide and suits small to medium capacity bikes with a centre stand, so a big adventure bike may need a wider deck. The MC401’s table is 690mm wide and the MC680E’s 750mm. Measure your bike’s length and where its stand sits, then compare with the deck.

How Do I Stop the Bike Tipping Over on the Lift?

Clamp the front wheel, then strap the bike down to the lift before you raise it. The clamp only holds the bike while you fit the straps; it is no substitute for them.

Look for an adjustable wheel clamp and somewhere to anchor the straps. The 37157 hydraulic motorcycle lift has an adjustable clamp, a wheel stop bar and a stippled table for grip, and the MC550 has four eyelets for tie-downs. Lock-downs on the base, as on the MC401, stop the lift itself moving while you work.

Can a Hydraulic Lift Creep Down, and What Stops It?

It can: if its seals leak, a hydraulic ram can raise a load and then fail to hold it. So never leave the bike held up on the ram alone. Raise the table, then lower it onto its mechanical safety lock before you start work.

Lock positions differ, so choose heights that suit you. The MC454 hydraulic motorcycle lift locks at 405mm, 555mm and 660mm, and the Draper 37190 has stops at 550mm, 720mm and 840mm. Heavy-duty lifts such as the MC680E have a multi-position lock.

Foot Pump, Air or Electric: Which Is Easiest With a Heavy Bike?

Air or electric is easiest with a heavy bike, because a compressor or motor does the pumping; a foot pump works with no power at all. Many platform lifts, including the MC401, MC454 and 37157, use a foot-operated hydraulic pump and ram.

If you have a compressor, an air-assisted lift such as the Clarke CML3 air and foot pedal lift raises the bike quickly on air, with the pedal as a backup. Check your supply first: the MC401A needs 100–120psi and uses 7.06cfm.

Electro-hydraulic lifts use a motor instead. The MC680E’s 230V system is built for simple, fast lifting, and the MC454E works from a 12V vehicle battery or a Roadstart unit, which suits a shed with no mains supply.

What Should I Check Before I Buy?

• your bike’s weight against the lift’s rated capacity
• platform width and length against the bike and its centre, side or paddock stand
• the front wheel clamp’s range against your tyre width, and anchor points for straps
• lock positions at the working heights you want
• foot, air or electric operation, and the air supply or power you have

Compare the hydraulic motorcycle lifts side by side, or contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with your bike model, its weight and the space you have.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a motorcycle lift also take a quad or mini tractor?

Some will. The MT680 has two side platforms that widen it from 710mm to 1220mm, and the Draper 37190 comes with side platforms for ATVs and mini tractors. The MC680E converts to a quad lift with additional side ramps.

How do I get the rear wheel out when the front is clamped?

Choose a lift with a removable rear panel. The MC550 has a 500mm panel, the 37157 a 690 x 245mm one and the MC401 a sliding panel. The MC550 also takes an optional rear lift.

How do I take out the front wheel and forks?

Lift the bike under its frame instead. On the MC4500 500kg motorcycle and quad scissor lift you can remove both wheels, the forks, steering, swing arm, suspension and even the engine. Wheel chocks help support the bike while you set the frame supports.

Can the bike stand on its centre stand on the lift?

Yes, on lifts designed for it. The MC401 and MC454 suit centre-stand bikes or a paddock stand, and the MC454E suits side-stand bikes too. Check the stand’s feet land on solid deck, not over a removable panel.

Can a lift be moved or stored out of the way?

Many platform lifts, such as the 37157, have transport wheels. The MC550 can stand upright for storage, and the single-post MCL500 is a space-saving design.

How do I unload a heavy lift at home?

Plan for helpers. The MC401 weighs 136.8kg and the MC680E 218.5kg, and Sealey says extra assistance must be on hand at delivery. The 37157 arrives in a wooden crate, so clear a route and space to unpack it first.

Which lift suits a trials bike, moped or scooter?

A small scissor lift. The Draper 70212 takes lighter motorcycles, mopeds and scooters up to 135kg, and the MC135’s foot design and safety pins suit off-road and trials bikes.

Will the front wheel clamp fit my tyre?

Check the clamp’s range against your front tyre width. The MC680E attachment takes tyres of 75–340mm and the MC454E’s up to 135mm. The Clarke CML3’s locking clamp has rubber pads.

What should I check on a second-hand lift?

Look for bent, cracked or broken parts and for oil leaks at the ram or pump, then load it and make sure it holds its height. Check the safety lock engages at each position, and ask for the instructions.

Does a lift used in a workshop need inspecting?

Yes, if it is used at work. Vehicle lifts in that setting come under LOLER and need periodic thorough examination by a competent person, with six months the recommended interval. That does not replace regular in-house checks between examinations.